The NFL season is quickly approaching, and fantasy drafts are in full swing. At DraftKings, you can play an array of different season-long fantasy contests.
This is a look at the fantasy value of all the players in the Washington Commanders’ backfield.
Washington Commanders Backfield
The Commanders are coming off a dream season. Jayden Daniels emerged as one of the league’s best quarterbacks, and the team went on a run to the NFC Championship Game. The Commanders are hoping to build on that and prove that it was not a one-season blip and that they are here to stay. The running game was integral to the Commanders’ success last season, and they will need to stay on that level to get back to the postseason. Jayden Daniels is a great athlete and is capable of running the football himself. That is one of the things that makes this team so dangerous. However, they also have a dangerous running back duo of Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler.
Jayden Daniels actually led the team in rushing last season, but that was largely due to the fact that he played all 17 games, while Robinson only played 14 and Ekeler played 12. Austin Ekeler was also a dangerous receiving threat for the Commanders, ranking second on the team in receiving yards per game. The Commanders will hope to keep their two running backs healthier next season so that they can keep this three-headed monster of Daniels, Robinson and Ekeler going all season. As a team, the Commanders ranked fourth in EPA/rush and third in rushing success rate last season. They will continue to be one of the best running teams in football next season as they bring back all the same pieces.
Running Back Handcuff: Austin Ekeler
Brian Robinson Jr. led the team in carries last season, despite only playing 14 games. He had over 13 carries per game, compared to Ekeler, who had just over six carries per game. Robinson will continue to be the main man in the Commanders’ backfield, but if Ekeler stays healthy, the carries will be split between the two of them, and of course, with Jayden Daniels as well. Having a dangerous running quarterback like Daniels can take some rushing touchdowns away from the running backs, which happened last season in Washington. Last season, Robinson had eight rushing touchdowns, Daniels had six and Ekeler had four. If the offense remains as strong as it was last season, there should be plenty of rushing touchdowns to go around for this team.
Austin Ekeler is the clear handcuff choice for Brian Robinson Jr drafters. Jeremy McNichols saw a decent amount of action last season, but that was largely due to the injuries to Robinson and Ekeler. Of course, both of those players could miss time again next season, but as long as there isn’t a serious injury to either, it will be the duo of Robinson and Ekeler getting a majority of the touches at running back. If there was an injury to Robinson, Ekeler is fully capable of carrying the load for Washington. Even with a healthy Robinson, he should also continue to get a decent amount of touches, both rushing and in the receiving game. That makes Ekeler a viable fantasy option even if Robinson is healthy, and is one of the top handcuff options in the NFL this season.
